Flaw detecting and thread tensioning device



| HAMMINK 3,067,481

FLAW DETECTING AND THREAD TENSIONING DEVICE Filed Jan. 28, 1959 Dec. 1 1, 1962 IN VEN TOR. LUCAS HAM M INK ATTORNEY United States This invention relates to a flaw detecting device for preventing the occurrence of defects in textile thread or cord packages. More particularly, it relates to a novel slub detector and thread tensioning device for use in conventional forms of thread manipulating mechanisms to expose the presence of knots, broken filaments, slubs and other common defects in textile thread, yarn or cord, to enable the removal of such defects therefrom, and to apply tension, if desired, to such textile thread, yarn or cord.

In the present specification and claims the term thread is used in a general sense to indicate any attenuated textile material whether natural or synthetic. In addition, the textile material may be obtained as a continuous filament or spun yarn.

One object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which will prevent the passage therethrough of any of the imperfections frequently encountered in the manufacture and manipulation of threads and which will apply tension to these threads.

It is another object of this invention to provide a slub detector and thread tensioning device which is simple to operate and easy to thread.

It is a further Object of this invention to provide a device which upon the detection of a slub or similar imperfections will discontinue the passage 'of thread therethrough and thereby permit easy removal of the imperfection.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description of this invention.

Numerous types of slub detectors have been previously used in the textile art to detect and remove slubs or other imperfections from the thread. One such device is that described in Swiss Patent No. 316,071 in which two parallel plate-shaped bodies form a slit through which the thread passes. These bodies are rigidly mounted relative to each other and it is only'by way of precision adjustments in the device that the width of the slit may be varied.

No provision in this device is made for tensioning the thread simultaneously with the detection of slubs. In addition, where the bodies are rigidly mounted the vibrations of the machine on which the device is mounted will result in changes in the width of the slit thereby permitting slubs to work through the device.

No such difliculties are experienced in the device of this invention. It has been found that such may be overcome by providing a device which consists of a holder, a freely movable insert within said holder, and means for urging said insert into contact with said holder. The insert and bolder form a slit through which the thread passes. Thus the device serves as a tensioning device because the insert is urged toward the holder. The tension may be adjusted by varying the force applied by the urging means. In addition, slubs cannot work through this slit thereby permitting their easy removal.

This invention will be better understood by a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

atent FIGURE 1 illustrates in perspective view the preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the same device along lines III-III in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 ilustrates in perspective view another embodiment of the device of this invention; and

FIGURE 5 is a partially cut away view of the device of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a moving thread, which thread moves from below the device of this invention to above it. In customary operation, the device of this invention would be placed between the thread package and cone winding point of a cone winding mechanism.

Holder 14 is composed of an elongated base 3 having attached thereto at each end flanges 4. Attached to the end of each flange 4 are lips 15. The attachment of lips 15 and flanges 4, and flanges 4 and base 3 may be by welding or other means, or the entire holder 14 may be molded or cast of suitable material, usually metal. An elongated insert 2 is placed within holder 14 in sliding relationship thereto. The construction of holder 14 is such that insert 2 may move freely between base 3 and lips 15 and move upward in the direction of travel of thread 1.

Flanges 4 are of sufficient length to receive insert 2 between base 3 and lips 15 and leave sufiicient space to form a slit 6 through which thread 1 travels. Slit 6 is of sufiicient size to permit the passage of thread l but prevent passage of slubs therethrough when pressure is applied to insert 2. The size of slit 6 may be varied to accommodate'threads of different diameters by varying the pressure on insert 2 or by varying the thickness of insert 2.

Pressure member 18 is utilized to urge insert 2 toward base 3, thereby permitting it to grip and tension thread 1 moving therebetween. Member 18 is composed of a pressure arm 16, tensioning bracket 5 formed from wire, rotatable rod 17, and movable weight 19. Arm 16 is rigidly connected to rod 17 and tensioning bracket 5 in such a fashion that bracket 5 presses against insert 2, thereby urging it toward base 3. Weight 19 may be moved along the lower end 20 of arm 16, thereby permitting adjustments in the force exerted by bracket 5 against insert 2. Rod 17' is rotatable about an axis (not shown) attached to the thread manipulating machine (also not shown).

To insure that slubs or other similar imperfections are removed upon their occurrence, it is desirable to stop the movement of thread through the device. This is accomplished by connecting holder 14 to a conventional stop mechanism (not shown) by way of link 7 and screws 8. The connection between holder 14 and the stop mechanism is such that holder 14 is freely movable.

In operation, thread 1 is passed through slit 6 where tension is applied by the force exerted against insert 2 by pressure member 18. The amount of force is determined by the amount of tension desired. Should a slub occur it Will be stopped by the restrictive action of slit 6, thereby causing holder 14 to move upward which upward movement is transmitted to the stop mechanism by link 7 thereby stopping the passage of thread.

To prevent insert 2. from passing through holder 14, plates 9 are provided at both ends of the underside of base 3.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5, which illustrate another embodiment of this invention, reference numeral 21 denotes a moving thread moving from below the device of this invention to above it. This device in normal operation is placed along the thread path between the thread package and winding point of a cone winding mechanism.

Holder is a cylindrical piece of material attached to a conventional stop mechanism (not shown). Part of the cylindrical wall 22 of holder 10 is removed in axial direction to form a slit 12 to permit free insertion of thread 21. A cylindrical insert 11 is placed within holder 10. Insert 11 may be varied in size to permit use of different size threads in this device. A plate 13 is provided on the lower end 23 of holder 10 to prevent the downward movement of insert 11.

Pressure means (not shown) are provided to exert force against insert 11 thereby urging it toward holder 10 at the point where thread 21 is passing through the holder. The pressure means are brought into contact with insert 11 by way of slit 12. Thread 21 is kept in place in holder 10 by mounting holder 1% somewhat out of line with the free path of thread 21.

Operation of this device would be carried out as is the operation of the preferred embodiment.

Pressure may be exerted against the inserts of this device by additional means, such as springs, magnetic forces, or the force of gravity on the insert when the holder is inclined under the insert. Also, the pressure member 18 as illustrated by the foregoing description may be varied. All that is necessary is that it be subject to adjustment of the amount of pressure exerted by it.

The width of the slit 6 or the space between holder 10 and insert 11 may be varied by varying the thickness of inserts 2 and 11, or by placing set screws in lips and holder 10, thereby limiting the movement of the inserts.

This invention has been described as being utilized with a cone winding mechanism wherein single threads are passed through the device. It is also possible to use this with other thread manipulating mechanisms. One possible use is on a warping frame which would only necessitate a much larger holder and insert to permit passage of a web of threads rather than the single one as illustrated.

Thus it has been shown that this device, even though simple in operation and construction, will perform two vital operations in thread manipulations, namely, slub detection and thread tensioning.

While this invention has been described in a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that considerable variations from the details disclosed herein may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Accordingly, this invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A slub detector and thread tensioning device comprising an elongated holder, an elongated insert slidably mounted within said holder, said holder comprising an elongated base, flanges attached at both ends of said base and lips extending from said flanges, said holder being adapted to receive in sliding relationship thereto said insert, and means for urging said insert into contact with the elongated base of said holder, said insert and said holder having substantially conforming faces.

2. A slub detector and thread tensioning device comprising an elongated holder, an elongated insert movably mounted within said holder, said holder comprising an elongated base, flanges attached at both ends of said base and lips extending from said flanges, said holder permitting to free movement of said insert between said base and lips and in the direction of thread movement, and pressure means for urging said insert into contact with said base, said insert and said base of said holder having substantially conforming faces.

3. A slub detector and thread tensioning device comprising an elongated holder, an elongated insert slidably mounted within said holder, said holder comprising an elongated base, flanges attached at both ends of said base and lips extending from said flanges, said holder being adapted to receive in sliding relationship thereto said insert, and means for urging said insert into contact with the elongated base of said holder, said insert and said base of said holder having substantially conforming faces, said means comprising a pressure arm rotatable about an axis and an adjustable weight positioned on said pressure arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 466,088 Bauer Dec. 29, 1891 653,174 Diederichs et al July 3, 1900 843,435 Bondreaux Feb. 5, 1907 1,728,303 Parker Sept. 17, 1929 1,743,650 Bacon Jan. 14, 1930 2,025,383 Gastrich Dec. 24, 1935 2,209,839 Long July 30, 1940 2,289,232 Babcock July 7, 1942 2,292,986 Barnes Aug. 11, 1942 2,373,513 Stevenson Apr. 10, 1945 2,656,125 ODell Oct. 20,. 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE UP CQRRECTION Patent No. 3,067,481 December 11, 1962 Lucas Hammink or appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that err d Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and that the sai corrected below.

Column 4, line 18, strike out tom Signed and sealed this 21st day 01 May 1963.,

(SEAL) Attest:

DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer 

